Food Bank Response to Cyclospora Outbreaks: Action Plan

Immediate Containment and Staff Safety

Upon notification of a Cyclospora outbreak linked to your facility or distributed products, isolate affected inventory immediately—quarantine all suspect produce (berries, fresh herbs, leafy greens are common vectors) in a designated, clearly labeled area away from distribution. Brief all staff on the outbreak via email or in-person briefing before customers arrive; emphasize hand hygiene, glove use, and the prohibition on handling suspect items. Contact your local health department's food safety officer within 2 hours; provide lot numbers, supplier information, distribution dates, and estimated number of recipients. Do not distribute any product under investigation until cleared by public health authorities. Document all containment actions with timestamps and staff signatures.

Traceability, Product Checks, and Supplier Communication

Activate your traceability system immediately to identify which customers received affected products and when. Cross-reference inventory records, distribution logs, and donation manifests to establish a complete chain of custody for all suspect items. Contact your produce suppliers directly; request testing results, farm origin documentation, and recall status from the FDA or FSIS (check alerts.getpanko.app and FDA.gov for current recalls). Compile a list of all fresh produce items distributed in the relevant timeframe, including vendor names, lot codes, and expiration dates. Photograph and retain samples (if safe to do so) as evidence for health department inspection. Communicate transparently with retail and institutional partners who may have received donations from your inventory during the outbreak window.

Documentation, Customer Notification, and Health Department Partnership

Maintain a detailed outbreak log: include the outbreak source, confirmation date, product identifiers, distribution scope, staff and customer notifications sent, health department communications, and remedial actions taken. Create a written notification to affected customers (via email, phone, or in-person at pickup) that includes product names, dates distributed, symptoms of Cyclospora infection (watery diarrhea, fatigue, cramping, typically 7–10 days post-exposure), and instructions to seek medical care and report illness to the health department. Coordinate with your local or state health department on epidemiological investigation participation; provide access to your records, staff interviews, and facility for inspection. Request written confirmation from public health when the outbreak is resolved and products are cleared for distribution. File any required incident reports with your state's food bank association or USDA SNAP program liaison, as funding or regulatory issues may arise.

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